History

For the past 65 years, the Committee has focused on a comprehensive review of housing-related trends and policies. After the Second World War, its activities largely concentrated on the reconstruction of Europe. It then broadened its area of work, covering other aspects of housing that contribute to the formulation of housing policies in many of its member States. After 1960, urban planning and land use were incorporated into its work. In 1996, the Committee established the subsidiary body, Meeting of Officials on Land Administration, to specifically deal with issues related to land management and real estate markets. In 1999, this body was given the new name, Working Party on Land Administration.

In 2000 and 2006 the 56 UNECE member States articulated and affirmed their vision of the role of the Committee and the scope of its activities. The 2000 Ministerial meeting on Human Settlements reviewed and appraised the implementation of the Habitat Agenda in the ECE region as a contribution to the special session of the General Assembly, Istanbul +5 held in 2001.  (See the Report on the Ministerial Meeting and the annexed Ministerial Declaration). The objective of the meeting was to foster discussion on the vision and direction of future work to improve housing and urban conditions in the ECE region. As an outcome, the Ministers and Heads of States adopted the "ECE Strategy for a Sustainable Quality of Life in Human Settlements in the 21st Century". This document is based on the provisions of the Habitat Agenda and Agenda 21, with particular emphasis on issues of common interest and concern for all countries of the ECE region.